Bow for stringed musical instruments



1,646,118 18, 1927- J. STADNICZEK BOW FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 17, 1926 I i I i Qnwuloz Patented Get. 18, 1927.

JOHN STADNICZEK, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

BOW FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed December 17, 1926. Serial No. 155,392.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bows for stringed musical instruments, such as violins and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved bow which is extremely simple and durable in construction, and wherein the tied ends of the hairs may be conveniently and effectively attached to the tip and frog.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide an improved form of frog for violin bows and the like, wherein simple and effective means provided for permitting the hairs to be conveniently secured to the frogv Another equally important object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means for permitting convenient attachment of the ends of the hairs to the tip of the bow.

With the above general objects in view, and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts herein after more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a violin bow constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged framentary longitudinal section taken through the tip of the bow substantially upon line 3 3 of Figure Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 1 taken through the frog and staff substantially upon line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially upon line 55 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the block forming part of the means for effecting attachment of the ends of the hairs to the tip of the bow.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates the staff of the bow, which is of .the usual form and has the frog 6 fitted for longitudinal sliding movement upon the inner portion thereof, the staff belng formed at its outer end with an integral tip 7 as is vgenerally well known in the art.

In accordance with the present invention,

the tip 7 is formed with a socket or recess 8 which preferably has a slanting outer wall as at 9 so that the recess tapers slightly larger in an inward direction. The recess 8 is also undercut as at 10 outwardly from the bottom portion thereof, and arranged to be loosely inserted in the recess 8 is a hair end attaching block 11 having a rigid outwardly projecting toe 12 upon its inner end adapted to enter and fitin the undercut portion 10 of the recess when the block 11 is forced outwardly against the slanting wall 9 of the recess 8 in a manner to be presentl described, whereby displacement of the block 11 out of the recess is effectively prevented. As shown clearly in Figures 3 and 6, the outer side of the block 11 is also slanted to flatly contact the wall 9 of the recess 8 to further insure against accidental displacement of the block 11 from the recess 8 when said block is positioned with its toe 12 in the undercut portion 10 of the recess. The block 11 is formed with a relatively large central transverse opening as at 13 for readily accommodating the ends of the hairs 14 when tied together as at 15 in the usual manner, and in order to permit the outward passage of the hairs, the outer end of the block 11 is provided with spaced flanges projecting toward each other to form a relatively narrow transverse open ended slot 16, therebetween the Width of which insures against outward passage of the tied ends of the hair therethrough and insures the desired flat positioning of the hair when passed through and secured to the frog 6. With this construction it will be apparent that the connection of the ends of the hairs to the block 11 is effected by lateral movement of the hairs relative to the block with the tied ends 15 passing into the central opening 1.3 and the hairs extending outwardly from the tied ends thereof through the slot 16. The 'block 11 isof the same Width as the recess 8, and it is thus apparent that when the block is placed in said recess lateral displacement of the tied ends of the hair is prevented to an extent to insure against disengagement of the hairs from the block. With the hairs effectively connected to the'block 11 in this manner and positioned in the recess 8, a wedge 17 is forced into the recess 8 between the inner walls of the block 11 and the recess 8 as shown in F igure 3 so that the block 11 is forced outwardly into firm contact with the wall 9 of the recess and the toe 12 is caused to enter the undercut portion 10 of said recess WVith the parts in this position, the hairs are effectively retained connected to the block 11 and the latter is effectively held against displacement out of the rev 8 so that a desirable attachment of the hairs to the tip 7 is conveniently had. The wedge 17 is preferably provided with an inwardly directed flange at its outer end for facilitating its removal, the flange being clearly shown in Figure 3, and it is apparent that upon removal of this wedge 17 the block 11 may be slid inwardly to disengage the toe 12 from the undercut portion 10 of the recess so that manual removal of the block 11 from the recess 8 is then freely permitted.

The frog 6 consists of a block or plate 18 of wood or the like fitted and rigidly secured by rivets 18 or the like in a substantially U-shaped metal frame 19 formed from a strip of sheet metal and engaging the inner end and longitudinal edges of the block 18 as shown. Specifically, the inner longitudinal end portion of the frame 19 is shaped as shown in Figure 5 to slidably fit the staff 5, and rigidly secured to the said inner longitudinal end portion of the frame 19 is the usual nut 20 which is movable in a recess 21 of the staff 5 and operatively associated with an adjusting screw 22 by means of which the desired longitudinal adjustment of the frog 6 relative to the staff 5, is effected. This adjusting screw 22 is rotatably journaled in the inner end of the staff 5 in the usual manner.

The block 18 of the frog 6 is provided at its outer side with a recess 23 adapted to loosely receive the other ends of the hairs 1 1 which are also tied together in the usual manner as at 24, the outer longitudinal end portion of the frame 19 being formed with an opening as at 25 in registry with the recess 23 for permitting the insertion of the tied ends of the hairs into said recess 23 as shown in Figure 4. in. Figures 1, 2 and 4 and 5, the outer longitudinal end portion of the frame 19 is pro vided upon its side or longitudinal edges with inturned guide flanges 26 which cooperate with the said end portion of the frame 19 to form a guideway for reception of a slide plate 27 whose marginal edges are preferably rabloeted as shown in Figure 5 so that the outer surfaces of the flanges 26 and the plate 27 will be flush with each other when the plate 27 is in place. The guideway formed by the flanges 26 is open at the outer end of the frog so as to permit insertion of the slide 27 from this end of the guideway, and the plate 27 is of a length substantially equal to that of the frog block 18 and the outer longitudinal end portion of the frame 19 so as to overlie and flatten, the hairs 1 1 where they engage this end portion of frame 19 after As illustrated clearly passing out of the recess 23. The flanges 26 are so proportioned as to cause the hairs 1st to be tightly gripped between the portion of the frame 19 forwardly of the recess 23 and the adjacent portion of the slide plate 27, with the tied ends of the hairs 14 firmly forced into the recess so that the attachment of the hairs to the frog is an effective one. In order to more securely secure the hairs to the frog and insure their flat arrangement after passing from the frog, the outer end of the outer longitudinal end portion of the frame 19 is provided with a downturned flange 28 over the edge of which the hairs 14 are adapted to pass as shown in Figure at, with said hairs tightly bound between the adjacent beveled end of the slide plate 27 and the edge of flange 28, as shown. \Vhen the ends of the hairs are firmly secured in place in this manner there is sufficient friction between the flanges 26 and the edges of the plate 27 to ensure against accidental shifting of the latter and to require a material amount of force to be applied to the plate 27 for its rearward sliding movement and removal. In View of the above it will be seen that the construction of the frog is egtrcmely simple and at the same time con venient and effective attachment of the ends of the hairs is had. i

As shown in Figure 1, the slide plate 27 is provided with a recess or socket 230 on the in ner side of its inner end, and the frame 19 is formed with an inclined groove 31 adapted to register with recess 30 when the plate 27 is operatively disposed. This permits a tool 32 to be engaged at one end, as shown, in the recess then fulcruined in the groove 31 to initially release the slide plate from its tight clamping engagement with the hairs so that manual removal of said slide plate is facilitated.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention claimed.

It will be seen that the flange of the block 11 at the outer side of the slot 16 is disposed in a longitudinal plane outwardly of that of the other or inner flange and that the adjacent free end edges of said flanges are substantially in the same transverse plane. This insures the proper leading of the hair inwardly from the block 11.

Nhat 1 claim as new is 1 In a violin bow. a staff having a tip formed with a recess outwardly undercut at the bottom thereof, a block removably positioned in said recess for detachable engagement with the tied ends of bow hairs. toe rigid with the inner end of the block,

therein and a frog and means to force the block outwardly against the outer wall of the recess to cause the toe to enter the undercut portion of the recess and removably secure the block in place, said last named means embodying a wedge removably positioned between the inner side of the block and the inner wall of the recess.

2. In a violin how, a staff having a recess adjustable longitudinally thereon, said frog comprising a block having a recess, a Ushaped metal frame in which said block is fitted and secured with the portions of the frame engaging the innor end and longitudinal edges of the block, means associated with the outer end portion of the frame for removably securing the tied ends of the bow hairs in the recess of the block. a nut integral with the metal frame and extending into the staff recess, and a screw carried by the staff engaged with the nut.

In a violin bow, a frog including a block having a recess, a metal strip secured on the outer longitudinal edge of the block and having an opening registered with said recess, inturned flanges on the longitudinal edges of said strip forming a guideway open at the inner end of the frog, a slide plate reniovably engaged in said guideway to clamp bow hairs between the same and the strip outwardly of said recess of the block and maintain the tied ends of the hairs in said recess, an outwardly turned flange on the inner end of said strip over the free transverse edge of which said hairs pass, the inner end of the slide plate and the outwardly turned flange cooperating to clamp the hairs therebetween.

4. In a violin how, a frog including a block having a recess, a metal strip secured on the outer longitudinal edge of the block and having an opening registered with said recess, inturned flanges on the longitudinal edges of said strip forming a guideway open at the inner end of the frog, and a slide plate removably engaged in said guideway to clamp bow hairs between the same and the strip outwardly of said recess of the block and maintain the tied ends of the hairs in said recess, said slide plate having a recess in the under face adjacent its outer end, said strip having an inclined groove registered with said slide plate recess when the slide plate is operatively disposed in the guideway whereby a tool may be fulcrumed in said groove with one end engaged in said slide plate recess to facilitate removal of said slide plate from the guideway and release of the hairs In testimony whereof I ailix my signa ture.

JOHN STADNICZEK. 

